Before I started this blog, there were many a project that we attempted (some successful, some not so much) that you’ve yet to experience. Unfortunately for you guys, I didn’t take before and after pictures of every little thing I did, so there is no documentation of my process. Thus, you guys don’t get to experience the riveting details of repairing a garbage disposal or our back door’s weather stripping. There are some projects, though, that I may be able to convey with one after picture and some extremely provocative prose. Or, some semi interesting writing. You be the judge.
Ever since we painted our office a dark army brown/green, I knew that I wanted some poppy yellow accents in there. I’m still in search of some awesome curtains (hey, it may be a semi man cave, but I’m allowed some curtains!) but an easy little touch that I whipped up in an afternoon was a custom yellow lamp shade. Believe it or not, but finding a bright yellow lamp shade is actually incredibly difficult. After months of searching, I decided to pull out my DIY card and take a stab at creating one on my own.
I found a great glass lamp base at Target (for a great price, naturally) and knew that I wanted a nice modern shade to go along with it. I was itching for a sleek drum shade, but had to settle for the next best thing – a semi drum shade. Somehow, I found a semi-drum, semi-bell shade at Target, and the price was just right. I made sure to buy a shade that was paper so I could work my magic and dye the shade just the right shade of yellow.
Say hello that the old standby, RIT dye. Remember these guys from the good ol’ days of 3rd grade tie-dyed tshirts? I figured if I can’t find a yellow lamp shade, I may as well attempt to make one on my own. I thought about covering a shade in fabric, but I didn’t want to take away from the opacity of the shade. I didn’t have the means to completely submerge the lamp shade in a vat of dye, so I poured some dye into a big pasta pot (bowling hot water I might add) and sponged the dye over the lampshade until I reached the correct hue of awesome yellow. Be sure to wear rubber gloves when you deal with this dye – they don’t call it dye for nothing.
And voile! A perfect shade of yellow, all for the cost of a cheap-o paper shade and some $.99 RIT dye. Our new yellow shade is the perfect accent in our man cave/home office, and definitely brightens up our deep wall color. Any home projects you’re dye-ing to share (ooo lame… but I couldn’t resist!)?
images courtesy of Pottery Barn and ritdye.com
How creative!!! Will have to remember this technique when we finally decide on a color scheme for the guest bedroom.
very cool idea!
Love it!! I just bought a new lamp that has an atrocious shade, so this may be just the ticket to making a new one in kelly green – thanks for the idea!!
Wow! It really turned out great and the yellow is perfect for that room.
Dear Audrey (Abby),
Awesome lampshade by the way! I totally wouldn’t even think to use tye dye.
Right now, our man’s best friend cave is so dark and gloomy. My desk is in there yet I hardly ever use it because the room is so manly. I am going to attempt making my own mini-office space in our guest bedroom which is girly and perky. And, I’d like to paint my desk white. I have this computer desk from Target. I think it’s a faux wood. If it looks like wood and talks like wood then isn’t it wood? What do I need to do so when I paint it the paint doesn’t chip off? Sanding? Primer?
Please advise.
Respectfully,
Stuck in a man cave
@ehagood: I’m definitely intrigued by the Abby nickname. never heard that one before! As for the faux-wood desk: if it’s from Target it’s probably some type of partical board (not to diss Target or anything). I’ve never painted something like that before, but I hear if you get the correct primer on it before you paint, the paint should stick. If the desk is in fact wood, I would sand it first, slather on a latex based primer and top with your favorite color of standard latex paint. You can see how we refinished an old desk here as well!
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You weren’t kidding when you said it was impossible to find a bright yellow lamp shade! But upon Googling I found your site and now I’m going to dye one on my own…thank you so much for the tips!! :)
@tara: yay! so glad i could help! :)
Yup yellow lamp shades are impossible to find. I really want to try and dye one but am a bit nervous on doing it. Is it best to “practice” on a cheap one first? Thanks!